The Exhibitor (1953)

NT-2 EXHIBITOR opened on Feb .28, the first in the east. He was in the midwest for supervision of his circuit in that section. The first theatre in New Bedford, Mass., to install 3-D equipment is Harry Zeitz’s New Bedford, which played the Stereo-Techniques show. Capitol Theatre Supply is installing 3-D equipment in the Empire, Portland, Me., for the Snider Circuit’s Center, Fall River, Mass., for the Yamins Circuit, and the State, Waterville, Me., for Lockwood and Gordon Enterprises, all of whom booked “Bwana Devil.” Supply house officials and salesmen were busy answering the many exhibitor inquiries on the new 3-D processes and equipment. Miss A. Viola Berlin, managing director, Exeter Street, is biding her time on the subject of 3-D, and is watching developments. Officials of B and Q Associates Circuit decided to equip all Massachusetts houses with new lamphouses and new lighting as well as new screens in readiness for 3-D, al¬ though they have not actually booked a 3-D feature. William Talman, starred in RKO’s “The Hitch-Hiker,” arrived for a series of personal appearances in connection with New England openings. Norman Glassman, former president, Independent Exhibitors, Inc., took a long term lease on the Strand, Haverhill, Mass., and expects to reopen it on Easter Sunday. This marks the third theatre under Classman’s handling, as he and his son, Bruce Glassman, operate the Lafayette, Haverhill, and the Rialto, MAKE NEW PATRONS "Very human, will linger long in the memory . . . and tug at their heart¬ strings" —SHOWMEN'S "Warmly dramatic ... a sound of¬ fering for general audiences" —FILM DAILY COUNTRY PARSON Screentime 87 min. and follow with SEEDS OF DESTRUCTION Screentime 82 min. BAY STATE — 36-38 Melrose Street, Boston CONNECTICUT FILMS — 126 Meadow Street, New Haven Lowell, Mass. The Strand, completely air-conditioned, has 1300 seats, but has been shuttered for a year under litiga¬ tion. Prior to February, 1952, it had been operated by the Morse and Rothenberg Circuit. At that date, Greeley-Arcade, Inc., New York, purchased a block of stores housing the Strand from Louis Rothenberg, and a few weeks later started a suit against Rothenberg alleg¬ ing misrepresentation. This suit was settled when Greeley-Arcade sold back the entire property to Rothenberg at a reduced price. This re-transfer took place just prior to the death of Louis Rothenberg. Meyer Rubin, who recently took a lease on the Colony, Dorchester, Mass., closed the theatre. . . . American Thea¬ tres Corporation closed the Esquire. . . . Charlie Cifre, associated with Massachu¬ setts Theatre Equipment, returned from a 1400-auto trip. He visited Mexico City, the west coast, and Florida. Film District Stanton Davis, who has been a booker for RKO for the past few years, has been promoted to salesman, and has been given and Maine and Vermont territories. He is the son of the late Jack Davis, district manager, Republic, at the time of his death in 1945. His brother is Mel Davis, head booker, Republic. Easter attractions for downtown Boston theatres from 20th-Fox have been announced by branch manager James Connolly. The Metropolitan will present “The President’s Lady,” Keith Memorial will start an engagement of “Call Me Madam,” Keith-Boston will show “Destination Gobi,” while the Beacon Hill, still in its run of “The Star,” will follow with “Tonight We Sing.” Sympathy goes to Sylvia Steinman, secretary to E. Myer Feltman, U-I, in the death of her mother, and also to Ralph Geffen, former office manager, National Screen Service, in the death of his mother. . . . Mrs. Mary A. Callahan, 89, mother of E. X. Callahan, Sr., former district manager, 20th-Fox, died at her New Britain, Conn., home. The 20th-Fox employees sent a floral spray. James Connolly, branch manager, 20th-Fox, trained to California for a look at the new CinemaScope process. Also attending was Sam Goldstein, Western Massachusetts Theatres. Con¬ nolly stayed on for a three-day sales meeting. Within six weeks, there will be trade showings in New York City for eastern exhibitors of the sequences from “The Robe.” New Haven Crosstown Manager Irv Hillman, Roger Sherman, had a new Walker High Intensity screen installed for 3-D. For “She’s Back On Broadway,” Hillman broke The Register with a story about Virginia Mayo being acclaimed “The Yale Record Queen of 1953.” Bill Duffy is now assistant manager, Roger Sherman. . . . Jack Lynch, police officer, Paramount, is back at his post. ... Jim Darby’s Paramount received good tieups for “City Beneath the Sea.” In his limited spare time, Darby planned wallpapering another room at his home. . . . Johnny Mongillo, Loew’s Poli pro¬ jectionist, was entered in the Connecticut State rifle matches. . . . “Call Me Madam” was getting a splendid buildup at Loew’s Poli, due to manager Morris Rosenthal’s efforts. For “I Love Melvin,” manager Rosenthal arranged with a camera shop to sponsor a cover photo tieup. Meadow Street The spring-like weather caused the various drive-ins to reopen early. Among those operating weekends are the Pike Drive-In, Hartford; Starlight Drive-In, Stamford; and Norwalk Drive-In, Nor¬ walk; Waterford Drive-In, and Lake Drive-In, Waterbury. The new Man¬ chester Drive-In expects to be open in June. On March 14, T. and J. Markoff were issued a building permit for the con¬ struction of a drive-in on Meadow Road at Glastonbury Road, Portland. This permit is subject to State Police approval. The Markoffs operate regular theatres in other towns. . . . “Bwana Devil” was getting many bookings throughout the state. . . . UA planned trade screening “Moulin Rouge” on an afternoon and evening. . . . The Com¬ modore Hull, Derby, gave free balloons to the first 500 youngsters seeing “The Clown.” . . . Margaret O’Connor, Loew Poli, Bridgeport, is back after illness. The Eastwood, East Hartford, closed one matinee so that Walker High Inten¬ sity screen and booth equipment could be installed to present 3-D. . . . Two Jewish films, “Mother of Today” and “Overture to Glory,” were booked for May 3 at the New Parsons, Hartford, under sponsorship of the1 Hartford chapter, Deborah Sanitorium. . . . Ben Simon, 20th-Fox branch manager, in¬ vited Frank Suracci, president, Space Club, to see “Invaders from Mars.” . . . “Man On A Tight Rope” was screened at 20th-Fox. . . . The Perakos Circuit is planning on installing a new screen and booth equipment for 3-D. B. E. Hoffman, Connecticut Theatre Circuit, was made one of the vice-chair¬ man of the 1953 Jewish Welfare Fund campaign. Another member of the executive committee is I. J. Hoffman. There has been a splurge of vanda¬ lism of late, and various theatres have taken precautions with extra police on the weekend. However, in a Hartford theatre, one employee was slashed in the face by three boys whom he asked to remove their hats. Circuits Loew Poli Division manager Harry F. Shaw and Mrs. Shaw left for a South American cruise. . . . George Perlroth, Poli assist¬ ant, New Haven, resigned. . . . MGM’s Debbie Reynolds was to be in for a press luncheon in conjunction with “I Love Melvin.” . . . Terry Turner, former March 25, 1953